A Series of Unfortunate Events One Shots

We'll Be Here for You

It should be obvious that this is an alternate universe; Begin!

~Normal POV

"Now don't you worry about a thing," Mr. Poe said as he kept his eyes on the road, "I know it's hard to lose so much so quickly but I'm taking you to stay with some friends of your parents. You'll have a nice, comfortable, new home."

In the back seat of the car were Duncan and Isadora Quagmire, both 12 and from a set of triplets. Just last week they lost their home in a terrible fire. Their parents and their brother were gone now. The two sat quietly contemplating their situation. This Mr. Poe was apparently a friend of the family they were going to be living with; they had been staying at his house until he made living arrangements for them. They could only hope he was right about this being a nice new home.

"Um, is this family adopting us officially sir," Duncan asked; he was curious about the specifics of the arrangements.

"No they're just taking you in," Mr. Poe replied, "You don't have to change your names or anything. Your parents had it in their will that you be left in the care of their old friends Bertrand and Beatrice Baudelaire."

"But we've never met them," Isadora noted.

"I'm sure you would have been introduced eventually. They have children of their own too right around your age. Ah, here we are!" Mr. Poe drove the car into a long driveway of the lovely Baudelaire mansion.

Duncan and Isadora got out of the car and followed him up to the front door. Before they could knock, the doors flung open and they were greeted by a pregnant woman with a bright smile.

"Hello Arthur, are these the Quagmire triplets?"

"Actually, they're twi-"

"Arthur, hush. They are triplets! I should know I was there when they were born," Beatrice said fiercely.

She practically shoved Mr. Poe aside and put her arms around the two kids and ushered them inside. Duncan and Isadora were at first about to get upset about the idea that their birthright had been changed, but now they were holding back giggles at how furiously Mrs. Baudelaire had dismissed the idea. Beatrice all but slammed the door in Mr. Poe's face and turned to them with a warm smile.

"I'm Beatrice Baudelaire," She said, "I used to be Karen's best friend when we were younger. My husband Bertrand is out on a business trip for now but he should be home by next Thursday. And if you don't mind me saying so, it's wonderful to see you again."

Duncan smiled, "I'm sorry but our parents never mentioned you to us..."

"Well we haven't seen each other in years. I think the last time I saw you was when I introduced you to Violet as an infant. After that we just communicated through letters and eventually stopped speaking to each other entirely. Life just kind of got in the way. I had another baby, and I'm about to have my third one, and now..." She looked down solemnly and paused before perking back up and saying, "Never you mind. You're going to live with me and my family and you'll be perfectly fine. And look how much you've grown! Duncan, I remember I got to hold you first when you were born; I could tell you were going to be a handsome young man. Isadora, you're so beautiful now; you have Karen's smile."

She then started leading them through her house as she continued talking, "My oldest Violet is she's 13. And my son Klaus is 11. I expect you'll get along well. I only have one rule in this house: behave. Are we clear?"

"Absolutely, Mrs. Baudelaire, we wouldn't want to do anything to offend," Isadora replied.

"Oh, please call me Beatrice! And you won't have to worry about sharing or anything, this mansion is perfectly big enough for everyone to have their own room. Isadora you'll have the room across from Violet, and Duncan your room will be across from Klaus'. Now let's get you upstairs and into some more comfortable attire. Mrs. Poe has a habit of buying clothes that are far too itchy for some reason."